Lt. Governor's race: Kerrigan aiming for trust

Thursday

Jul 17, 2014 at 12:01 AMJul 17, 2014 at 1:15 PM

By Brian BensonDaily News Staff

FRAMINGHAM – If Steve Kerrigan becomes the state’s next lieutenant governor, he says he wants to restore public’s trust in government."We’ve got to give folks a government they can respect and believe in," Kerrigan told Daily News editors in a meeting Wednesday.Kerrigan, who hopes to act as an ombudsman for state government, said that type of government is critical to accomplishing policy objectives such as investing in education and transportation – two essential elements to fostering economic growth across the state.Kerrigan, who is running in the Sept. 9 primary against Leland Cheung and Mike Lake for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination, is a former Lancaster selectman who has co-chaired the Presidential Inaugural Committee and was CEO for the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee. He is president of the nonprofit Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and was an advisor to U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy and chief of staff to former Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly.Coming from a central Massachusetts community, Kerrigan said he understands the challenges facing western and central cities and towns in the Bay State."We want folks to understand we’re part of this commonwealth," he said.Kerrigan said those communities can prosper and grow economically, especially with improvements to infrastructure.He said growth doesn’t have to involve turning forests into developments as the Bay State has lots of vacant properties that could be redeveloped.Kerrigan said every child should have the opportunity for early childhood education. People with that foundation end up less likely to commit crimes and are more likely to have a higher income, among other benefits."Early childhood education is the silver bullet for a lot of things going forward," he said.Among other education goals, Kerrigan said it is important to limit tuition increases at public higher education institutions, something that might help tame growth in private school tuitionsHe said he is against a ballot question that would repeal a provision that indexes the state gas tax to inflation. With cars becoming more fuel efficient, drivers will be less affected by the gas tax increases, he said."If we lose that source of funding, I don’t know where we make that up," Kerrigan said.Voters in November will also decide whether to repeal a state law authorizing casinos in the state. Kerrigan said he is against repealing the law, saying repealing the law would foster an economic development climate that could make businesses in other sectors wary about coming to Massachusetts. This is one in a series of articles planned from editorial board meetings with candidates for statewide offices between now and the Sept. 9 primary.Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn. For more political news, go to www.masspoliticalnews.com.